The Young Ecologists Talk and Interact (YETI) conference is underway at the Maharaja Saiyajirao University in Vadodara—commonly referred to as the cultural capital of Gujarat. The four-day conference, commencing on the 22nd of January and concluding on the 25th of January, 2018, gives early career ecologists an opportunity to interact with like-minded students from across the country to exchange ideas and collaborate.

A coffee table book on the C V Raman International Fellowship for African Researchers, highlighting the successful journey of the programme, was launched jointly by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

Prasad Raghavendra, Associate Professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California, Berkeley, and David Steurer, professor of theoretical computer science at ETH Zurich have been chosen as the winners of the first Michael and Sheila Held prize. They were chosen “for a body of work which revolutionizes our understanding of optimization and complexity in computer science” announces a press release from the academy.

Movie buffs and science aficionados are gearing up for the third Science Film Festival of India (SFFI) organized by Vijnana Bharati along with Vidnyan Parishad, Goa. The four day festival will kick off on the 16th of January 2018 in Panaji, Goa, and will feature movie screenings, workshops, exhibitions and competitions showcasing science and technology.

Dr. Vivek Nityananda, a research associate from the Newcastle University presented a lecture titled, “Stereovision and prey detection in the praying mantis”, on the 10th of January 2018 at the Indian Institute of Science. An alumnus of the Center for Ecological Sciences at IISc, Dr. Nityananda was introduced to the audience by his doctoral guide, Prof. Rohini Balakrishnan. The research that he presented to the audience was conducted at the Newcastle University, UK, conducted as a part of research undertaken by Prof.

The National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, along with the National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF), Gandhinagar, the Trans Disciplinary University (TDU), Bengaluru, and the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Energy and Development (MGIRED), Bengaluru, are organizing the first edition of the ‘Annual School for Grassroots Innovations’ -- a programme that brings together scientists, students, innovators and industry representatives to find solutions to local problems and promote sustainable development.

Prof. Philip S. Low, a Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Purdue University and the Director of the Purdue University Institute for Drug Discovery, addressed a gathering of students, researchers and Purdue alumni at the Material Research Centre auditorium, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore on the 8th of January 2018.

With swelling competition and reducing profits, staying environmentally responsible can be extremely challenging for any organization. There is therefore need to develop efficient systems that have minimum environmental impact, said Prof. Saptarshi Basu.

He was speaking at the 2nd International Conference on Sustainable Energy and Environmental Challenges (SEEC-2018) from 31st December 31 to January 3, 2018.